Public officials and PR people may tell the truth but rarely the whole truth.
It may take some digging to find the story behind the story.
For example, a high school football coach recently resigned just before the season started.
His teams had won three state championships.
He said he resigned for “personal reasons.”
That usually means he was caught doing something he shouldn’t have.
Perhaps something embarrassing – or even criminal.
As you know, high school, college and professional sports have produced numerous scandals involving gambling, sexual harassment, abuse of athletes, girl friends and spouses and other crimes.
This is not confined to sports.
Public and corporate officials resign or are prosecuted for embezzling, dumping toxic waste and other crimes. Private citizens get caught, too.
What to do if you suspect there’s more to the story?
1. Check with your editors and legal counsel. Is this information worth publishing?
How far should we take it? What will this cost?
If they agree your real work now begins.
2. You will need to talk with sources who are in a position to know what may be going on. If you are a beat reporter you know who these sources are. If not your work can be more challenging.
You will have to start from scratch and talk with people who may have inside information.
3. Beware of gossip. It usually contains a kernel of truth but as gossip makes the rounds it becomes exaggerated or wrong. Don’t fall for it.
4. Talk with enough sources to support everything you report. That doesn’t mean just by phone or email. Often you need to talk face to face with those you believe can lead you to the truth.
5. You need their trust. How you do this is up to you. Develop a bedside manner.
When country doctors once visited their homes, their patients learned to trust them.
6. Take notes if it won’t spook your source. I often start by saying that I’d like their agreement to take notes to be accurate on the important things we talk about.
If they say or act uncomfortably, I close my notebook until I can write later what they said.
7. Play fair. This is serious. Your ethics may be tested.
Our colleague Bruce Locklin used two recorders for interviews and gave the target a copy.
8. Keep good records. You may need them in court if you and your publisher are sued.
We’ve been sued five times but no one ever collected a dime or was offered a settlement.
We once had to talk our libel insurer out of offering a settlement.
Our attorney felt we could win in court.
When two suits were dropped, our insurer felt more comfortable.
9. Set up computer folders by source names to record everything you will need before you write.
10. Finally you need your editors and libel attorney to give you the green light on your final draft.

Next: Do you believe you’re creative? 

Looking for something to reward your stars? Consider giving them a copy of  The Art of Compelling Writing. Volumes 1 and 2 are available on Amazon.com.
The above will appear in The Art of Compelling Writing, Volume 3, which is already in the works.
These books were published to help editors like you teach your reporters how to report and write well. To comment or with questions, please write JerryBellune@yahoo.com.